In kendo and life, we develop and acquire habits – automated and ingrained patterns of behaviors, actions and thoughts. It can be a challenge to modify them or adopt new ones.
For example, some may either unconsciously or consciously have a pattern of self-talk which may attract anxiety or fear just prior to shiai’s, interviews or presentations and possibly self-criticism afterwards. They may wish for self-talk which promotes calmness, confidence and inspiration instead. Some may have a hunched posture, tight shoulders, predictable give-away patterns in the movements of their body, shinai or eyes that opponents can take advantage of. They may wish to adopt a more natural posture, relaxed shoulders and remove any predictable movement patterns.
For those interested in learning more about habits, their importance and how to manage them, I’ve compiled a list of resources on this topic below organized as follows:
- About Habits in General
- The Importance of Developing “Good” Habits
- Ways to Change Habits
- Ways to Acquire New Habits
The principles and techniques therein can be applied to replace undesired habits and acquire new ones in and outside of kendo. I may update this page with additional resources in the future. Quotes on habits are listed under the section “On Habits” in Shinsa and Shiai – Quotes for Inspiration (Part 1) and Additional Quotes on Habits.
May these principles and the practice help empower and enrich your kendo and life!
About Habits in General
- Online
- William James, Chap IV on “Habit” from The Principles of Psychology, 1890.
- Habits: How They Form and How to Break Them,” Fresh Air, Mar. 5, 2012.
- A brief poem which describes the process of changing habits (one of my favorites)
- Books:
- Charles Duhigg, The Power of Habit – Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, Random House, 2014.
- Appendix – A Reader’s Guide to Using These Ideas (“a framework for understanding how habits work and a guide to experimenting with how they might change.”) pp. 287-298.
- Robert J. Ringer, Million Dollar Habits, Ballantine Books, 1990.
- Charles Duhigg, The Power of Habit – Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, Random House, 2014.
The Importance of Developing “Good” Habits
- George McCall, “Practise may ingrain bad habits,” Kenshi247.net, Dec. 2009.
- A quote which describes the path to developing habits and the importance of thoughts: “Be Careful of Your Thoughts, …”
Ways to Change Habits
- Marie Hartwell-Walker, “7 Steps to Changing a Bad Habit,” PsychCentral.com.
- Leo Babauta, “The Habit Change Cheatsheet: 29 Ways to Successfully Ingrain a Behavior,” ZenHabits.net, Sept. 2009.
- Leo Babauta, “The Slow Secret: How to Make Lasting Changes in Your Life,” ZenHabits.net, Sept. 2009.
- James Clear, Transform Your Habits – Learn How Psychology Makes It Easier for You to Live Healthy and Actually Stick to Your Goals, 2nd Ed., 2013 (46 pages).
- Charles Duhigg, Flowchart of “How to Change a Habit”, 2014 (1 page).
- The Appendix “A Reader’s Guide to Using These Ideas” pp. 287-298 of Charles Duhigg, The Power of Habit – Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, Random House, 2014.
Ways to Acquire New Habits
- James Clear, “The 3 R’s of Habit Change: How To Start New Habits That Actually Stick.” (The intro is particularly poignant).
- Scott Young, “18 Tricks to Make New Habits Stick,” Lifehack.org.
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